The 10 Best Non-Comedogenic Face Oils Help Moisturize My Skin and Deliver a Stunning Glow
Finally, glass skin for the acne girls.
While I am someone with oily, acne-prone skin, I have to admit: I love a glow. There’s something so fresh and youthful about having glossy, well-moisturized skin, and while I’m mattifying as much as I can this summer to keep my makeup in place, my skincare routine will always have a nonnegotiable step: a fantastic noncomedogenic face oil.
For years, I’ve struggled to find oils that are suitable for my acneic skin, and after a while, I fully gave up on the quest. Still, face oils play an important role in any skincare routine, oily or otherwise. "Facial oils can provide benefits to the skin by acting as occlusives (which act like sealants to keep water in the skin) and emollients (which soften and strengthen the outer layer of the skin by filling in spaces between skin cells)," board-certified dermatologist Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD FAAD, previously told MC. "Skincare oils often form a protective barrier on the outer layer of the skin, providing anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and skin barrier repair properties."
I also realized that many oily skin types can also be dehydrated, which means that an oil can actually be essential to help maintain the moisture in your skin. After finding an oil that I promptly became obsessed with, I had to do my due diligence and create a list of non-comedogenic face oils at every price point. See the full list below and enjoy your impending glow.
While this is now my holy grail face oil, it’s been our beauty director, Hannah Baxter’s, favorite since 2018 (yes, she showed me proof). It’s made from one ingredient, plum seed oil, and is fantastic at giving my acneic skin the most angelic glow. It’s also has a light fruity scent that I simply can’t get enough of.
This remains one of the biggest flexes of my life: I was first introduced to this oil by the legendary Susan Taylor, and I never looked back. Marula oil is packed with antioxidants and omegas 6 and 9, all of which make the skin appear more moisturized and brightened. Plus, this version from Drunk Elephant is 100 percent unrefined, meaning it was mechanically extracted and has no additional chemicals in the formula.
Squalene oil is phenomenal for acneic skin as it mimics the skin’s natural sebum. It’s also extremely lightweight, and this one from Indie Lee comes from olives, which gives it an elegant texture that won’t feel like it’s drowning your pores.
Clearstem is one of my favorite brands for acne care, and its Goldenhour face oil is a delight to the senses. Not only does it have hyaluronic acid and watermelon seed oil for moisture, but it also has vitamin C to help brighten the skin over time. Plus, it smells like watermelon—delish.
Not only is rosehip oil noncomedogenic, but this one from The Ordinary is cold-pressed and sustainably sourced, too. The best part? It’s less than $12.
Josie Maran is one of my favorite brands for body care, but the product that started it all, the argan oil, is still one of the best products from the brand. It can be used on the face and body, and Argan oil is a fantastic source of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin E, for anyone who wants an extra glow boost.
Biossance’s squalene oil is another fantastic option for acne-prone skin, especially if your breakouts can leave behind some hyperpigmentation. It’s combined with vitamin C, which can help to brighten your skin over time, while the squalene keeps your skin moisturized.
If retinol is new to you, combine it with squalene oil and watch your skin flourish. This oil from Byoma does just that, and over time, will not only keep your face glowy and moisturized, but also even and dark spot-free, too.
Jojoba oil is another fantastic option that will keep your acne at bay. It’s also fantastic to use on your hair and nails, and this one, in particular, comes in some massive sizes so you can stock up for months at a time for whole-body use.
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Meet the Expert
Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin is a Board-certified dermatologist.
